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Five Summer Treats to Avoid Feeding Your Pet

Grab a spoon—it’s National Ice Cream Month! It’s really no surprise that many of us love to spoil our pets with bits of our tasty summer treats, but pet parents please beware: Ice cream is just one of many summer goodies that could double as serious health hazards to our pets!

Ice creamJust say no to the cone. One lick or two (no chocolate, please!) is fine, but because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase—the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk—milk and other milk-based products can cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Chicken BonesFeeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural option, but chicken bones splinter easily and can cause choking or may become lodged in your pet’s digestive tract.

Potato ChipsWho doesn’t like to crunch? While one or two plain chips may not pose a threat, large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many chips include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. In other words, keep those salty snacks to yourself!